A new wireless coalition is joining the chorus of voices calling for the government to back “open access” to the 700 MHz band, reports the Wall Street Journal.
The Wireless Founders Coalition for Innovation plans to send a letter to FCC Kevin Martin Thursday afternoon calling for an “open access” network.
Among the 15 people who signed the letter are the founders of Virgin Mobile USA, a prepaid U.S. carrier that leases network capacity from Sprint Nextel Corp; the founder of Zingy, a top provider of mobile content downloads; the chairman of mobile email provider Seven Networks Inc; and the CEO of handset software maker mPortal Inc.
Frontline Wireless, a startup launched by former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt, touched off the debate when it proposed an open-access network. The idea has been endorsed by tech companies ranging from Google to Skype, along with a advocacy groups like the SavetheInternet.com Coalition.
Verizon, which is among the carriers most interested in bidding in the auction, doesn’t want to see new constraints on a chunk of those frequencies. Verizon wants to obtain more spectrum for mobile broadband services and has aggressively opposed the Frontline Plan.
Wireless companies such as handset manufacturers and software makers are normally reluctant to weigh in publicly, because their fate is so closely tied to having good relations with cellphone carriers.
The Wireless Founders Coalition doesn’t include some of the largest companies like handset makers Nokia or Research in Motion, who privately criticize the closed U.S. system but are reluctant to rock the boat publicly.
“We believe the wireless industry is ripe with opportunities for innovation and economic growth, but the large wireless carriers currently act as gatekeepers to block or deter many of these opportunities,” the group wrote in the letter.
But Tom Tauke, executive VP of public affairs at Verizon says, “If four Sling boxes are put on a cell site, you can take it down. There have to be rules for the network.”
The FCC is likely to set rules for the coming auction in the next several weeks.
AT&T and Verizon Wireless urged U.S. regulators to reject Google’s proposal for the mandatory resale of the 700 MHz band. Google’s plan would disrupt the auction and diminish the airwaves’ value, AT&T and Verizon said in separate comments filed Wednesday with the FCC.
Related Dailywireless stories on 700 MHz include; FCC: Beltway Vs Valley, 700MHz Battle Begins, AT&T “Open” to 700MHz — Not, General Dynamics Wins IWN Contract, Martin: Sharing is Good, Harold Feld on 700MHz, FCC Indecisive on 700MHz, FCC Decides on 700MHz Rules Today, Small Ops Squeezed Out of 700MHz?, General Dynamics Wins IWN Contract, AT&T, Verizon & Qwest Share $50B Contract, Networx: $50B Phone Contract Due, Consumers to FCC: 700MHz Democracy Now!, Civil War in 4G, Nextwave Buys IP-Wireless, FCC Firming Up 700MHz Rules?, Verizon’s $6B Smackdown, Alcatel Does EVDO in DC 700 MHz Net, Frontline’s 700MHz Pitch: Sharing is Good, Tom Ridge: Answer Cyren Call, Verizon Makes its Move for Universal Service Fund, Nextwave Buys IP-Wireless, Consumers to FCC: 700MHz Democracy Now!, Frontline Files 700MHz Plan with FCC, 700MHz in 10 Steps, National Broadband: Fee & Free, FCC to Rural Users: 700MHz is the Ticket and Oregon’s $500 Million Statewide Wireless Network.
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